|
<br />1\~'" .,., 0
<br />....; '-oj _ -; ~,';)
<br />
<br />SUMMARY
<br />
<br />f.
<br />
<br />The purpose of this final environmental impact statement (FEIS)
<br />is to present the environmental impacts that would occur if any
<br />of the alternatives of the AB Lateral Hydropower Facility .
<br />(facility) were constructed and operated, The facility would be
<br />funded, built, and operated by the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users
<br />Association (UVWUA) and Montrose Partners (jointly referred to as
<br />the "Sponsors"), These groups plan to construct the facility
<br />using existing features of the Uncompahgre Valley Reclamation
<br />Project (UVRP), a U,S, Department of the Interior (USDI) Bureau
<br />of Reclamation (Reclamation) irrigation project. They are
<br />seeking a lease of power privilege (contract) with Reclamation
<br />that would permit using facilities of the UVRP,
<br />
<br />The Uncompahgre Valley Reclamation Project (originally called the
<br />Gunnison Project) was authorized by the Secretary of the Interior
<br />on March 14, 1903, ,under the provisions of the Reclamation Act.
<br />Rehabilitation of the project and construction of the Taylor Park
<br />Dam was approved by the President on November 6, 1935, Hydro-
<br />power development in association with the UVRP was authorized by
<br />the Act of June 22, 1938 (Public Law 75-698, Stat. 941).
<br />
<br />The purpose of the facility, located in Montrose County,
<br />Colorado, is to economically develop the energy potential of
<br />water flows from the Gunnison River through the Gunnison Tunnel
<br />(Tunnel) to the Uncompahgre River (see figures S-l through S-3) .
<br />The large difference in elevations between the Tunnel and the
<br />Uncompahgre River creates the potential for hydropower
<br />production. Power from the proposed facility would be sold to
<br />local utilities, For the first 15 years of project operation,
<br />capacity and energy would be sold to the Public Service Company
<br />of Colorado, After that period, a different power sales
<br />agreement would be arranged.
<br />
<br />During the winter, the Tunnel is currently used to meet only
<br />small water supply needs. The AB Lateral Project would, subject
<br />to guaranteed minimum flows in the Gunnison and other senior
<br />water rights, divert between 950 and 1,135 cubic feet per second
<br />(ft'/s) of flows for power purposes; this water would then be '
<br />returned to the Gunnison River at Delta, During the summer, the
<br />AB Lateral Facility would use water already being diverted from
<br />the Gunnison River for irrigation purposes. Water would flow
<br />through the powerplant, would fill canals downstream of Montrose,
<br />~nd then would be returned to the Gunnison River at Delta,
<br />Additional diversions would be made for power operations when
<br />irrigation demands were low (e,g., wet, high flow periods),
<br />
<br />The developers cite the following needs for the proposed
<br />hydropower facility: (1) generating electrical power;
<br />(2) developing a renewable resource; (3) improving the existing
<br />irrigation system of the UVRP; and (4) enhancing the UVWUA's
<br />revenues for debt retirement and system improvement,
<br />
<br />S - 1
<br />
<br />L .,
<br />
<br />"
<br />
<br />.'j,
<br />I
<br />(
<br />
<br />,I
<br />
<br />,
<br />
<br />"
<br />"
<br />
<br />"
<br />
<br />t,,-;~
<br />,j;k .dic.b, i,;d.
<br />
|